Parashat Mishpatim
Shevat 27, 5780 / February 21-22, 2020
Torah: Exodus 21:1 - 24:18
Maftir: Exodus 30:11-16 (Shabbat
Shekalim)
Haftarah: Ashkenazim - 2 Kings 12:1-17; Sephardim - 2 Kings 11:17 - 12:17
Haftarah: Ashkenazim - 2 Kings 12:1-17; Sephardim - 2 Kings 11:17 - 12:17
This coming Tuesday and Wednesday are Rosh
Chodesh Adar. Mishenichnas Adar, marbim b’simchah! – With the beginning
of Adar, we increase joy!
Calendar and dedications follow below. For a
full calendar of events and other info about Temple B’nai Hayim/Congregation
Beth Meier, check out: www.bnaihayim.com
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend,
and please cite the source.
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WHO COMES FIRST?
“Now these are the laws which you shall set before them.” Exodus 21:1
“You shall not wrong a stranger or
oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus
22:20
The rules set forth in this parashah are
primarily two types: civil and criminal legislation, and humanitarian matters. This
follows last week’s receiving of Aseret Hadib’rot (the ten
utterances, aka “Ten Commandments”). The Torah here continues to deal with
matters arising between humans, such as: how to treat slaves, strangers,
converts, widows and orphans; the requirement to pay damages for personal
injuries; protecting others from dangerous livestock and conditions of
property; and, much more. Some brief laws regarding sacrifices and the
observance of the holidays come later in the parashah.
The Chasidic Master Simcha Bunim of Pshischa
wonders why the first verse says “before them”. He suggests that “them” is
not the Israelites. Rather, he reads it as “those”, to teach us that the
commandments between fellow humans (mitzvot bein adam l’chavero) come
before the commandments between humans and God (mitzvot bein adam la’Makom). Not
just literally, as in the text, but in terms of importance as
well. Heresy? Hardly.
Simcha Bunim is on to something. What is
the point of rigid ritual observance as a form of worshiping God, if one is
going to mistreat fellow human beings, who are made in God’s very
image? It's not only hypocritical; it's a chillul hashem (a
desecration of God's name).
The commentary Avnei Azel makes a similar
point. It raises the question, why do the mitzvot bein adam
l'chavero immediately follow commandments concerning the altar (at the
end of last week's parashah)? The response: Just as the sacrifices were
the worship of God in the Temple, observing the "civil" mitzvot
(charity, lovingkindness, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, etc.) is
also the worship of God.
Regarding our second verse, Rabbi Eliezer the
Great (BT Bava Metzia 59b), says that the Torah warns 36 times, and some say 46
times, that we should not mistreat the stranger. This person is often
identified as “the stranger (or alien) within your gates”. Add Rabbi Eliezer’s
teaching to those of Simcha Bunim and Avnei Azel, and we know that the Torah
way of treating the strangers and aliens among us is perhaps the most important
of all the mitzvot bein adam l’chavero. The Torah doesn’t demand
their papers – and neither should we. It commands us to treat them the same way
we would like to be treated – not the way we were treated in
Egypt! It’s the law!
I wish you Shabbat Shalom Uv’rakhah – A Shabbat
of Peace and Blessing.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from
every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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Candle lighting: 5:23 pm
Friday: Simchah Shabbat
Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Complimentary
Shabbat Dinner follows. RSVP to synagogue office.
Saturday: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat
Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows.Amy Cecil of
Jewish World Watch will deliver a drash during the service and take
questions during lunch.
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am. NO Adult education Classes -
Rabbi Flom’s “(Re)Introduction to Judaism” will resume March
8. David Silon’s "History of Israel and the Middle East" class
– resumes March 1. Purimspiel Rehearsal – 12:00 noon. We need more
people! Everyone welcome to participate!
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn -
12:30 pm. NOTE TIME CHANGE
Friday, February 28: Shabbat Rocks! Evening Service – 6:30 pm. With
Reb Jason and the Shul of Rock. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday, February 29:
Torah study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat
Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush Luncheon follows.
Next time you come to TBH/CBM,
please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items
(no glass) for SOVA.
This d’var torah is offered for a
refuah shleimah for Elisheva bat Malkah, Chanah bat Minnie Leah, Leah bat Sarah
Imanu, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Mark
Brownstein, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht
(Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Gabor Klein, Philip
Kronzek, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Martin Lee, Barbara
Levy, Gail Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Gina Seeman, Debra
Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat
Kreina), and William Sragow.
Please let me know if there is
anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be
removed from this list.
